Charlie Bolam was just six years old when his mother interrupted a sleepover he was enjoying at a friend's house to tell him that his father Kevin had died from cancer. With his pockets "stuffed full of tissues" and tears rapidly rolling down his cheeks, he and his mother Caroline hailed a taxi and made their way home to begin the long mourning process. Thanks to the unwavering support of his mother, his friends, a therapist and his beloved dog, Scruff, Charlie navigated his way through the anguish. Now a teenager and a bright, articulate and endearing one at that Charlie is on a mission: to help others talk about their grief."Some people like to keep it in but that doesn't help," the 13-year old says. "It's better to be open because if you keep things in, you start to get really sad and angry.""I just let everything out and that helped me."Prince Harry wished he had done just that when his mother was killed in a car crash, 20 years ago. In a series of candid interviews in recent months ahead of the anniversary of Princess Diana's death, Harry spoke of "shutting down his emotions" for almost two decades before eventually seeking help. Charlie believes the prince's openness, along with his brother William's willingness to talk about their ordeal, is crucial in lifting the veil of taboo around death and bereavement."Even if no-one knows you or everyone knows you, we're all human beings so no matter how famous you are, we've all got to talk about our feelings."I think it's good that they are talking about it and it's good to hear they are saying it's good to talk about it. As they are princes in England, more people will do what they are saying instead of just some kid who lost their parent."The teenager, who aspires to be either a fashion designer or a magician, now wants to encourage anyone who has lost a loved one to be as proactive about talking about their feelings as his mother urged him to be."Find someone you can trust who won't tell anyone else if you don't want anyone else to know and talk to them."Talk to them whenever you feel sad, upset, angry it will help."
Princes William and Harry at their mother's funeral in 1997.